ORIGINAL IRVIN FLYING JACKET As worn by Wing Commander

 ORIGINAL IRVIN FLYING JACKET
As worn by Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC AE whilst flying
from Croydon in September and October during the Battle of
Britain
Foster was called up at the outbreak of war and joined No 605 Squadron RAFVR at
Drem on 6 July 1940. In combat on 27 September he damaged a Bf 110 but suffered
damage to his own aircraft and had to make a forced landing. The next day he
damaged a Ju 88, while on 7 October he destroyed a Bf 109, a shared Ju 88 on the
following day a probably Bf 109 on 15 October, on 26 October and 8 November he
managed to score hits and damage Bf 109s and on 24 March 1941 he damaged a He
111. He left the squadron in September 1941 to become an instructor at 55 OTU. On
14 April 1942 he joined 54 Squadron, which was posted to Australia and arrived there
7 September 1942. He scored the squadron`s first victory in Australia with a
Mitsubishi Dinah on 6 February 1943, followed by four Mitsubishi Bettys, two more
probables and two damaged between 15 March and 6 July. He was awarded the DFC
on 13 August 1943. On 2 February 1944 he returned to the UK.
Bob will write a dedication on the night of the auction for whoever wins this superb
auction prize in his superb book Tally Ho.
Kindly donated by Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC AE
605 SQUADRON COLLECTION
A superb collection of signed memorabilia relating to 605 Squadron,
the squadron with which
Wing Commander Bob Foster flew in the Battle of Britain.
The first item is Five in one Day, artist proof number 1 of 40 signed by 20 of ‘The
Few’.
The second item is Bob Foster’s book Tally Ho, multi-signed.
The third item is the superb limited edition Corgi model of Bob’s Hurricane; the box
has been signed by some of
‘The Few’.
Kindly donated by Colin Smith
A SUMMER FOR HEROES
By
Nicolas Trudgian
The white cliffs of the south east coast of England, standing defiantly in the face of
would-be invaders, are now synonymous with the pivotal conflict in the summer of
1940, the Battle of Britain, the Royal Air Force's finest hour.
Spitfire pilots of No.65 Squadron, heading home to re-arm and refuel, display the
exuberance of youth as they swoop low in celebration over a downed Bf109. Above
them a squadron of Hurricanes climbs out to intercept raiders above the Channel
where the swirling paths of duelling aircraft are traced in vapour in the summer sky.
This is an exact reproduction of the original painting it is also a unique item as it is the
only Presentation Giclee copy in the world signed on the reserve by nine of ‘The Few’:
Flight Lieutenant William Walker AE, Squadron Leader Keith Lawrence DFC,
Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC, Squadron Leader Tony Pickering AE,
Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC AE, Squadron Leader Nigel Rose AE,
Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson, Flight Lieutenant Owen Burns
Kindly donated by Colin Smith and Nicolas Trudgian
A UNIQUE NAPKIN
Original drawing by David Shepherd OBE
This was drawn at the gala dinner on the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
It was also signed by 10 of ‘The Few’.
Bob Foster, Tom Neil, Ken Wilkinson, William Walker, Terence Kane, Nigel Rose,
Keith Lawrence, Owen Burns, Geoffrey Wellum and Tony Iveson.
Kindly donated by Richard Hunting
EVENING PATROL
By Gerald Coulson G.Av.A.
During the early part of World War II the coastline of Britain was constantly under threat, particularly
the busy shipping lanes of the North Sea. As well as carrying out bombing raids on strategic coastal
targets and ports such as Luftflotte 5’s attack on the north-east in August 1940, allied shipping was
regularly attacked at sea as the Luftwaffe tried to disrupt supplies.
The RAF played a vital part in protecting these supplies, escorting fishing fleets and shipping
convoys, as well as long range patrols over the sea, seeking enemy activity and interception high
altitude reconnaissance aircraft.
These patrols were often long and arduous with pilots facing the possibility of ditching into the sea.
Often pilots would survive being hit and bailing out only to succumb to the freezing and hostile
waters of the North Sea.
Often fighter squadrons being ‘rested’ during the Battle of Britain would be moved to northern
locations such as Acklington and Leconfield to carry out coastal and sea patrols before returning to
the more intense fighting in the south.
This superb and evocative painting by one of the world’s most collected artists, Gerald Coulson,
captures the mood of one such patrol. Flying over the Humber Estuary as the sun is setting, pilots of
610 Sqn return their MK11 Spitfires to Leconfield after a convoy patrol late in 1940.
Each print is personally signed by outstanding fighter pilots, all of whom took part in North Sea
patrols during their careers:
Group Captain Desmond Sheen DFC
Having done his training in Australia he joined 72 Sqn in Scotland where in one of the early
engagements of the war he destroyed a HE115 and later a HE111 over the North Sea.
Wing Commander ‘Paddy’ Barthropp DFC AFC
After the success during the Battle of Britain he joined 610 Sqn in December 1940 carrying out
North Sea patrols from their base at Leconfield.
Squadron Leader Neville Duke DSO OBE DFC
One of the highest scoring RAF fighter pilots of the war he flew with 92 Sqn from 1941. Whilst
operating from Digby he carried out convoy patrols over the Wash and North Sea.
Group Captain Tom Dalton-Morgan DSO OBE DFC
As commanding officer of 43 Sqn he led patrols from Acklington and Drem, gaining many victories
over the North Sea. He once ditched his Hurricane into the sea after shooting down a JU88.
Squadron Leader B G ‘Stapme’ Stapleton DFC
With 603 Sqn operating from Scotland in 1940 he had success intercepting raiders over the North
Sea around Rosyth naval base and the Firth of Forth.
Air Commodore Peter Brothers DSO CBE DFC
He had much success with 32 Sqn flying defensive patrols from Acklington, over the North Sea in
1940, he later commanded 602 Sqn flying from the East Coast for Scotland.
Squadron Leader A C. Leigh DFC DFM
Digby-Based Spitfire pilot who undertook long range patrols of the East Coast/North Sea in 1940.
Wing Commander H. M. Stephen DSO DFC
Whilst with 605 Sqn at Wick in early 1940 he saw action against raiders around Scapa Flow and the
North Sea. Many of his victories came off the East Coast, flying from Leconfield and Hornchurch.
Kindly donated by Mr Gerald Coulson G.Av.A
FIRST LIGHT
by Geoffrey Wellum
Now an extremely difficult 1st edition to obtain, this book is presented in a handmade
slipcase and signed on the title page by 12 of ‘The Few’:
Geoffrey Wellum, Tony Iveson, Bob Foster, Tom Neil, Terry Clark, Terence Kane, Len
Davies, Tony Pickering, Ken Wilkinson, William Walker, Nigel Rose, Paul Farnes.
It is accompanied by the superb limited edition Corgi model, now sold out, in the new
colour scheme of the Battle of Britain memorial flight’s Mk11 Spitfire of 92 Squadron
flown by Geoffrey Wellum.
The box has been signed by some of ‘The Few’.
Kindly donated by Colin Smith
MEN OF THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN 2nd edition
This superb book on the Battle is presented in a slipcase for protection.
Unsigned copies of this book are now fetching as much as £700.
This book has superb signed portraits of John Cunningham and James H ‘Ginger’
Lacey and a bookplate laid onto the front endpaper signed by 27 of ‘the Few’:
Pete Brothers, Vic Bergman, Bob Doe, David Denchfield, Norman Brown, Roger
Morewood, Luiz Flower, Bob Foster, Trevor Gray, Tony Iveson, Ken Wilkinson, Terry
Clark, Jimmy Corbin, John Gardner, Mike Croskell, Peter Hairs,
Paul Farnes, Tony Pickering , Alex Thom, Nigel Rose, Tom Neil, Bill Green,
John Ellacombe, Geoffrey Wellum, William Walker, Terence Kane
and Len Davies.
Kindly donated by Colin Smith
“NEVER WAS SO MUCH OWED BY SO MANY TO SO FEW”
This is a reproduction of the most famous recruitment posters of the war,
signed by ten of ‘The Few’:
Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson, flew with 19 Squadron from RAF Fowlmere
Squadron Leader Tony Pickering AE, flew Hurricanes with 501 Squadron
Squadron Leader Nigel Rose AE, flew Spitfires with 602 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant William Walker AE, flew Spitfires with 616 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant Len Davies, flew Hurricanes with 151 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant Terry Clark DFM AE, flew as air gunner on Blenheims with 219
Squadron
Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC AE, flew Hurricanes with 605 Squadron
Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC, flew Spitfires with 92 Squadron
Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC AE, flew Hurricanes with 249 Squadron
Wing Commander Terence Kane flew Spitfires with 234 Squadron
Kindly donated by Colin Smith
SALUTE TO THE FEW
Matt Holness
Situated on top of the white cliffs of Dover is the
National Memorial to the Battle of Britain.
A Spitfire and Hurricane, both veterans of the Battle, fly over as a salute to the airmen
who sacrificed so much and became known as “The Few”.
This is the stunning original of the print that was released at Memorial Day 2012 and
has become very collectable. The original is signed by 11 of ‘The Few’:
Flying Officer Ken Wilkinson, flew with 19 Squadron from RAF Fowlmere
Squadron Leader Tony Pickering AE, flew Hurricanes with 501 Squadron
Squadron Leader Nigel Rose AE, flew Spitfires with 602 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant William Walker AE, flew Spitfires with 616 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant Len Davies, flew Hurricanes with 151 Squadron
Flight Lieutenant Terry Clark DFM AE, air gunner on Blenheims with 219 Squadron
Wing Commander Bob Foster DFC AE, flew Hurricanes with 605 Squadron
Squadron Leader Geoffrey Wellum DFC, flew Spitfires with 92 Squadron
Wing Commander Tom Neil DFC* AFC AE, flew Hurricanes with 249 Squadron
Wing Commander Paul Farnes DFM flew Hurricanes with 501 Squadron
Wing Commander Terence Kane flew Spitfires with 234 Squadron
Also framed within the mount are the signatures of
Wing Commander Geoffrey Page DSO OBE DFC and Air Chief Marshal Sir
Christopher Foxley-Norris GCB, DSO, OBE, FRSA. Kindly donated by The Battle of Britain Memorial Trust and Colin Smith
WING APPEAL PENDANT
(Awaiting image)